Impact of Student's Competition

Students are very hardworking these days. Due to their hard work the students

are pressuring themselves in order to get high grades and to be an honor student.

Given that most of the students are doubting and keep comparing their grades to their

classmates who got higher score than them, That can cause competition. It is possible

that one of the reasons why students want to compete is because of expectation of

others; other teachers, parents and classmates. Everyone thinks that person or that

student with high grades must be on top. That student will do their best to reach that

expectation. It is also possible that students want to compete to strive and recover

from their low grades and prove that they are worthy for getting high grades.

According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary the word, Competition means "The

act or process of trying to get or win something (such as a prize or a higher level of

success) that someone else is also trying to get or win also the act or process of

competing actions that are done by people, companies, etc., that are competing

against each other" The researchers have a further observation about the students

competition. They have witnessed this kinds of cases. During their junior high school,

the writers have noticed that there is a unnecessary competition among to their

classmates. They are always reviewing for exams and sometimes they forgot to take

care of themselves, they wanted to be on top. Based on Researchers experience, A

top student do not want to lose in everything, they don't want people to look

disappointed at them, so student compete with others. Students are pushing

themselves to get a higher score than anyone, also the reason why students always

ask their classmates "What is your score?" so they can compare their grades to other

students.

Sometimes, competing can cause too much pressure when someone does not have

a chance to have a satisfying grades, even if a student have done they’re best.

Unnecessary competition among students also gives students to look down on

themselves, the students will be able to feel that they’re not belong to their class
because most of their classmates are getting high grades and they are not. It will be a

cause to lose their confidence and they might feel that they are not good enough to fit

in their class.

Competition among students must be stopped. Competition can cause pressure, or

fight within the classroom. It’s Possible that competition can be one of the cause of

mental and emotional misbalance among students. The Pressure that students can get

from unnecessary students competition can also lead to depression. “Among 8,761

students from Grades 7-9, Year 2014 in the Philippines: 11.6% among 13 to 17 year

olds considered suicide 16.8% among 13 to 17 year olds attempted suicide”– 2015

World Health Organization Global school-based survey

“PRESSURE. Writings from students speak of difficulty coping with increased

pressure and stress.” Photo by Sofia Tomacruz of Rappler.

This photo shows the frustrations of students who have suffered from unnecessary

student’s competition. The student wanted to be on top but the other classmate got the

higher score. The student noticed that their professor prefers their classmate with the

higher grades in their section. This student feels that they are being ignored by their

professor because the student has low grades unlike others. This is an evidence that

competition exists inside a classroom. This is also a evidence that unnecessary

student’s competition is bad for the students.

 Competition can cause rivalry and conflict "People are not sure about their identity

when facing competitors of a similar status. People tend to confirm their own stature by

beating an opponent " Said by Professor Lee from the Graduate School of KAIST. The

students competition restricts the unity of the students. The students always think of

their classmates as opponents. They think that they must be ahead from others.

Instead of competing with other students, They must reach out to fellow students

through group studies. When a student gets a low grade, they must accept it and keep

moving to reach their goal. They don’t need to compare themselves with others,

because that’s not the basis of how important a person are.

It's significantly clear that competition can motivate people to work and competition is

okay in a sense that it raises student's consciousness of the value of good grades.

According to Jennifer Vaele, founder and executive director of True Competition.org,

Competition can help students to do more. it can also help them for future situations

like applying for college, the ability of being competitive will give them courage. Lyn

Kendall, of Gifted Child Consultant for British Mensa said that it is normal for people to

compare themselves with others also it teaches child to accept failure without losing

self-esteem Competing is good in a way that it could help us to progress, and it initially

pulls student’s pride.

According to the Gathered Data of the Researchers and the opinion or perspective of

each writers, Student Competition has brought a lot of issue that the society must know

or realize, Student competition might help student's future and teaches them to accept

failure but losing or the pressure of competing can also ruin their confidence, that can

cause Depression and push them to attempt suicide, The DOH noted that, according to

the world health organization, 800,000 people die each year due to suicide, the students

expressing their feelings and difficulty coping with increased pressure and stress in the

photo that was taken by Sofia Tomacruz from Rappler.

 In Competition it might be normal to compare themselves to others but comparing

others capability to do and doubting their grades is wrong. Student competition only

brings conflict among students. Students will only think that their classmates are

opponents instead of being class 'mates'. Some parents have high expectations from

their children and that put pressure among students, Based on Glosswich,2015

"Education should not be a competition in which children are pitted against one another,

with each parent desperately trying to make sure that the odds are in his or her child’s

favour." The Student Competition might help students to gain confidence and skills but it

can also affect the emotional and mental capabilities of the students.Student

competition can only cause rivalry and conflict among students and the researchers find

a way to solve this problem.

The Solution of this problem is to create an advocacy and let students know that student

competition is a bad thing, the students can avoid competition by being contented for

what they can get, they should not compare themselves with their classmates, Student

should not feel bad whenever others got higher score than them also, Instead of

focusing on competition start focusing how can student improve themselves, Students

can create group study to strengthen relationship with others, using this it can avoid

competition and help each other to progress, and enhance their capabilities to do.

Reference:

 https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/211671-suicide-cases-mental-

health-illness-youth-rising-philippines

 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/04/180424093708.htm?

fbclid=IwAR1XgF1LJrG-PSdt4hPFjOmwMn882U6qsT9F4Z3-

r1FXdoR8MiivF0XZUOQ

 https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/education/2015/09/education-should-not-

be-competition-which-children-are-pitted-against-one
  https://www.ineos.com/inch-magazine/articles/issue-5/debate/

Ada Zyrine,Veneracion Karissa and Castillo Michelle, Impact of Students Competition,

PPhillippines: Candelaria, Quezon, 2019